Ancient Camels and Classic Cars: A Memorable Visit to Redlands

Our recent day trip to the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable and educational experience. Although the museum is relatively small and clearly designed with children and families in mind, there was still plenty to fascinate adults as well. Combined with a visit to downtown Redlands and the unexpected discovery of a major car show, the trip became a memorable and affordable outing.

The San Bernardino County Museum offers a wide variety of exhibits focused on the natural and cultural history of the region. One of the most interesting areas was the Hall of Earth Sciences located on the lower ground floor. The exhibit featured impressive displays of stuffed wildlife, including wolves, along with massive recreations of prehistoric creatures such as a mastodon and a mammoth. The fossil displays were especially fascinating because they connected visitors to the ancient history of Southern California.

One exhibit that stood out involved prehistoric desert camels. The museum displayed fossilized camel legs that showed evidence of fractures. According to the exhibit information, the camels had become trapped in mud and struggled desperately to pull themselves free. Their efforts caused their legs to break, and over time those remains became fossilized. Seeing the physical evidence of an event that occurred thousands of years ago made history feel very real and immediate.

The museum also does an excellent job creating hands-on activities for children. There was a special area where kids could dig for fossils and brush them clean like archaeologists working at an excavation site. Upstairs, another interactive display allowed visitors to press buttons that illuminated the locations of caves, springs, and fault lines throughout San Bernardino County. Considering that San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States by area, it was interesting to see the geography and geology displayed in such a visual way.

Outside the museum, there was a native plant garden where visitors could walk around and enjoy the landscaping. The museum also featured a dedicated children’s activity room where kids could participate in crafts and educational projects for short sessions throughout the day. The museum clearly succeeds at making science and history accessible and fun for younger visitors while still remaining interesting for adults.

After spending about an hour and a half at the museum, we headed into downtown Redlands for lunch. What we did not realize beforehand was that the city was hosting the 27th Annual Redlands Firefighters Car Show. The downtown area was packed with people and lined with classic cars, custom vehicles, and restored automobiles of every kind imaginable. It was by far the largest car show I had ever seen. We spent another hour and a half walking through the streets admiring the cars and enjoying the atmosphere.

Originally, we planned to eat at one of the restaurants downtown, but the crowds were so large that we eventually decided to leave and keep things simple by stopping at In-N-Out instead. Even so, the experience of walking around downtown Redlands was enjoyable because the city has beautiful architecture and a welcoming atmosphere. During this time of year, the weather was perfect for strolling through the area, although the summer heat would probably make it less comfortable.

Overall, the trip was an excellent and inexpensive day getaway. Between senior citizen museum passes, lunch at In-N-Out, and gasoline, the total cost was only about twenty dollars each. The San Bernardino County Museum is highly recommended, especially for families with children who enjoy science, fossils, and hands-on learning. Downtown Redlands is also worth visiting for its historic charm, walkable streets, and community events. Altogether, it made for a relaxing and rewarding day trip.